Benjamin Banneker (1731 - 1806) was a free African American mathematician and almanac author -- also an astronomer, surveyor, and farmer. (I learned of his work through my friend Greg Coxson, an engineer, teacher, and fan of mathematical poetry -- and Coxson learned of Banneker through a school project of his son.) Beyond building a wooden clock and helping to lay out the borders of Washington, DC, Banneker predicted the 1789 solar eclipse and included rhyming math puzzles in his almanac. Coxson introduced me to a fine website, established by by John F. Mahoney of Washington, DC's Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, entitled The Mathematical Puzzles of Benjamin Banneker.
Banneker's Almanack had an eclectic mix of astronomy/astrology, medical advice, weather prediction, and other things. Here's a math-problem-poem from that Almanack -- found, along with others, at Mahoney's site:
Showing posts with label John Mahoney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Mahoney. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
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